In 1968, the predecessor of the Juno’s named The Irish Rovers Canada’s, “Folk Group of the Year”, and the following year, they received a Grammy nomination for “Folk Performance of the Year”.
As hosts of three national television series in Canada and Ireland, through the 1970's and 80s, The Irish Rovers increased the popularity of Irish music by way of the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation).
Canada's Prime Minister, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, personally asked the band if they could “please become Canadian” so that they could officially represent Canada throughout the world. Since then, they have represented Canada at no less than five world Expos, and in recognition for a quarter century of contributions to the International music world, The Irish Rovers won the Performing Rights Organization's (PROCAN) 'Harold Moon Award'.
Although all members of the band hail from Ireland, a number of their biggest hits were often "non-Irish". Their own rousing, traditional Irish compositions, however, do comprise the bulk of their music.
By the 90’s, their songwriting was even more prolific than their early years, and production of albums wasn’t about to slow down. Since they desired the freedom that as a younger band, they could not afford, in ’93 The Irish Rovers established their own record company, Rover Records. Their songs tell the story of the Irish, whether it’s a lost love, a sailor on leave, or the simple good taste of a Guinness. Rover Records has put out their last eleven albums, including Celtic Collection, Come Fill Up Your Glasses, Down by the Lagan Side, Another Round, Still Rovin', a Christmas album, and their greatest hits, 40 Years A-Rovin'.
Founding member George Millar is from Ballymena, original member Wilcil McDowell is from Larne, John Reynolds from Belfast, Sean O'Driscoll from Cork, Ian Millar from Ballymena, and percussionist Fred Graham is also from Belfast.
Former members include founding member Jimmy Ferguson who passed away in 1997 and Joe Millar.
My Boy Willie
The Irish Rovers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When my love Willy went to serve the king.
And all that vexed him or grieved his mind
Was the leavin' of his dear girl behind.
Oh, father dear, built me a boat
That on the ocean I might float.
And view** the ships, as they pass me by,
She had not sailed long in the deed(?)
When a fine ships crew, she changed to meet
And of the captain she inquired to (?)
Does my love Willy sail on board with you?
What sort of lad, is your Willy fair?
What sort of clothes does your Willy wear?
He wears a coat of royal blue,
and you'll easily know him, for his heart is true.
If that's your Willy, he is not here,
I doubt he's drowned, as we do fear
't was (garble***) as we passed by
It was there we lost a fine sailor boy.
****Oh, dig my grave long, wide, and deep.
Put a marble stone at my head and feet,
And in the middle, a turtle dove,
So the whole world knows, that I die(d) for love.
The Irish Rovers's song "My Boy Willie" is a poignant ballad about a young woman's love for her sailor boyfriend and her heartbreaking search for him at sea. The song begins with the woman's lover, Willy, leaving to serve the king - a common occurrence during the era in which the song is set. The woman is left behind, feeling alone and worried about her lover's safety. She longs to be with him, and asks her father to build her a boat so that she can sail out to sea and search for him.
On her journey, she encounters a ship and its crew, and asks if her boyfriend is on board. She describes Willy's appearance and clothing in the hopes of finding him. The ship's captain informs her that he has not seen her boyfriend on board and fears that he may have drowned at sea. Heartbroken, the woman asks for a grave to be dug for her, with a marble stone at her head and feet, and a turtle dove in the middle to symbolize her love for her lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
It was early, early in the spring
In the beginning of spring, Willy left to serve the king.
When my love Willy went to serve the king.
The singer's love, Willy, left to serve the king.
And all that vexed him or grieved his mind
The only thing that troubled Willy was leaving his girlfriend behind.
Was the leavin' of his dear girl behind.
Willy was troubled by leaving his beloved girlfriend behind.
Oh, father dear, built me a boat
The artist's father was asked to build a boat.
That on the ocean I might float.
The singer wanted to be able to float on the ocean.
And view the ships, as they pass me by,
The singer wanted to watch ships as they passed by.
And to inquire, of my sailor boy.
The artist wanted to ask if Willy was on any of the passing ships.
She had not sailed long in the deed(?),
The boat hadn't been sailing for long.
When a fine ships crew, she changed to meet
The artist met a fine ship's crew.
And of the captain she inquired to (?),
The singer asked the captain a question.
Does my love Willy sail on board with you?
The artist asked the captain if Willy was on the ship.
What sort of lad, is your Willy fair?
The singer asked what Willy looked like.
What sort of clothes does your Willy wear?
The singer asked what clothing Willy wore.
He wears a coat of royal blue,
The captain replied that Willy wore a coat of royal blue.
and you'll easily know him, for his heart is true.
The captain said that Willy's true heart would make him easily recognizable.
If that's your Willy, he is not here,
The captain said that Willy wasn't on the ship.
I doubt he's drowned, as we do fear
The captain suspected that Willy had drowned.
't was (garble***) as we passed by
It was while they were passing by that Willy was thought to have drowned.
It was there we lost a fine sailor boy.
The ship's crew lost a sailor at that location.
Oh, dig my grave long, wide, and deep.
The artist wanted their grave to be long, wide, and deep.
Put a marble stone at my head and feet,
The artist requested that marble stones be placed at their head and feet.
And in the middle, a turtle dove,
The singer requested a turtle dove be placed in the middle of their grave.
So the whole world knows, that I die(d) for love.
The artist wanted it to be known that their death was caused by love.
Contributed by Jacob I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ian Burt
on Bluenose
You have missed out a verse.